Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing protests against the company.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. This demonstration took place following initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung, which occurred last Friday.
The NSEU had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements. Although the union represents over 30,000 workers, the number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this is the largest strike in Samsung’s history.
In contrast, Samsung projects a revenue surge of more than 1,450% year-over-year for the second quarter, fueled by an increase in AI-related business. The company has also reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these record profits, the union asserts that employees have not received corresponding pay increases.
A significant portion of the striking workers is based at Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, commented that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could strengthen labor movements across South Korea.